“Each summer I look forward to the opportunity to introduce students to the language and culture of Austria, Southern Germany and Switzerland. The long and successful history of the KIIS Austria program ensures that students become immersed in the program setting, and our Austrian host families and support staff do a wonderful job of helping students feel at home and form lasting bonds abroad.”

“Going abroad with students is the best part of my job! Students who go abroad are forever changed, both personally and professionally. They grow in so many ways, developing a skill for flexibility and cultural sensitivity that sets them apart from their peers. Finally, many of them gain language proficiency that cannot be duplicated in a traditional classroom, opening doors to new career opportunities.”

“My experience studying and teaching in the US has helped me learn how to handle challenges related to teaching and studying abroad. Morocco is an ideal context where students can immerse themselves into a multi-ethnic and multi-linguistic Arab society, with a noticeable European influence.”

“We commonly visit places for 2-3 days at a time, but living in and exploring a new place for five weeks is a completely different experience. Students and teachers alike will end up feeling like they have a second home in the world.”

“I LOVE teaching and learning in a culture outside the United States. Tanzania especially provides a wonderful opportunity for students (and me) to evolve into people who understand the beauty and richness of our diverse world. We also realize that different experiences provide powerful learning moments.”

“By studying abroad and living with a host family, they really get to experience the culture from the inside out. It’s more up-close and personal rather than just observing it from a distance, and the language and cultural learning that happens in the classroom can be applied and expanded every day in the streets, in the host families, on weekend trips, etc. so it’s much more vivid and meaningful.”

“One of the greatest aspects of teaching abroad is the close connection one makes with the specific location. The classroom extends outside the walls and into the location and its surroundings, and on-site teaching adds an unmatched dimension to the lessons learned from students.”

"I'm honored to be able to take students to Munich and Paris each year and watch them develop their sense of independence and their awareness and appreciation of other cultures. This winter program offers so many experiences in two amazing European cities over ten days! Students are able to learn academic content through active learning approaches that make extensive use of these unique sites."

“The best part about teaching abroad with KIIS is the opportunity to watch your students’ perspective grow and broaden firsthand. While we get to see this happen on our home campuses, of course, there’s nothing quite like seeing students step out into the unknown of another country, language, and culture and finding themselves on new but steady ground, with you as their guide.”

“One of the greatest benefits of teaching abroad for me is the ability to connect with scholars in my field as we travel. In conversations over meals or exploring archaeological sites and museums, I have the opportunity to discuss current scholarship in classics, share ideas on teaching and learning, and revel in discipline-related humor--all of which help to inspire and reinvigorate me for teaching at my home campus."

“As a faculty member, the chance to journey through familiar coursework in an unfamiliar location gives the material and the learning process a sense of aliveness that stimulates the mind, helps one’s research and creates endless curiosity."

“The homestays on the KIIS Costa Rica trip were my favorite part. Living with the families in La Paz and San Marcos made me realize the importance of being completely immersed in a culture in order to truly begin to understand its people, language, and customs. The families showed me how we can embrace our differences, learn from one another, and connect through similarities we might not have thought about before.”

"Teaching abroad is the best way to see the world while you practice your craft! I have found that working in my field in another country allows me to feel like a resident rather than a tourist. Students and professors alike get to sample real life in our program country."

“While I enjoy teaching about Latin America on campus at Marshall, my students learn far more about the region in their courses with me abroad. Beyond just reading about politics in a book, you actually get to see politics in action on the street and hear it from the voices of those directly involved.”

“I feel incredibly lucky to be able to show students the incredible culture and life in Munich each summer. There is nothing better than seeing a student grow to love the country that has shaped my life so profoundly.”

Tips for Success

You should plan to be on-campus both semesters prior to teaching abroad as student recruitment during this time is crucial.

If you are planning to go on sabbatical, applying for a Fulbright, or will be gone for extended periods of time during the academic year prior to your term abroad, you are encouraged to wait until your return before applying to teach with KIIS.

You should not plan to teach abroad on multiple study abroad programs during the same year of your desired KIIS program as it could negatively impact recruitment for both programs.

You may not teach courses on your home campus or elsewhere during your KIIS program dates.

If teaching with KIIS for the first time, you may find it helpful to wait one year before applying to teach again.

“As instructors, we might expect to see the impact we made on our students in a distant future. Teaching abroad, however, is an experience that allows the instructor to align students’ learning abilities and skills with the abroad setting to create an immediate effect on the student. Teaching abroad has improved my on-campus teaching as I strive to create the right alignment between student learning ability and the classroom or field environment to produce a transformative learning experience.”